In the play Ti-Jean and his Brothers, Derek Walcott was able to effectively capture the

essence and true spirit of Caribbean storytelling. This story tells the tale of three brothers who
ensue a quest to defeat the devil and while engaging in that external conflict also grapple with
internal battles of who they are. The theme of identity prevails throughout the tale, as the
audience witnesses how each character’s identity led to either his victory or downfall.
Walcott meticulously crafts his plot to analyze the aforementioned theme of identity through
the presentation of the protagonists, the three brothers, and the antagonist, the Devil.

Firstly, the theme of identity is portrayed from the introduction of the plot through the initial
presentation of the brothers. Gros Jean, the oldest showcases that his physical strength is the
bane of his sense of self, repeatedly bragging about his ‘arm of iron”. Mi-Jean establishes his
role as the sibling who is most academically inclined, as portrayed by his eloquent speech and
constant delivery of educational facts. Ti-Jean’s identity, however, is portrayed as just the
innocent little brother who unlike his brothers, “doesn’t do a thing”. Within the conflict of the
play where the brothers individually take chances at winning their deal with the devil, Gros
Jean and Mi-Jean remain rooted in their identities which results in them losing and tragically
dying. Ti-Jean however, the only brother who did not set a trait such as physical or mental
strength as his identity, ended up being the one to defeat the devil. This offers a criticism on
how attributes that are commonly considered as ones of strength, especially by men, can
actually prove to be weaknesses.

Secondly, the theme of identity is further explored through the Devil’s presentation onstage.
Though the Devil’s main identity is understood as the “creator of all evil” and the villain of
the plot, he is portrayed to the brothers and by extension the audience in various forms which
include, Papa Bois, the Planter and him in his true form. This alternation of these roles assist
to carry the plot as every character he played was integral to the brothers’ journeys. Each of
the personas had their own identity, with Papa Bois’ residing in West Indian culture as he is a
Caribbean folklore character and the Planter’s identity would be one which related to the
European plantation owners from the days of slavery. The use of these two identities engaged
with the plot from a regional standpoint as they juxtapose folklore and slavery, which fall into
Caribbean culture and history, two key elements of our regional identity.